Whitley Heights 101

6630 Iris Drive

6630 Iris Drive was built in 1924 by contractor and owner Arthur White who sold the home in 1929. Currently, the 3,100 square foot Spanish villa has three stories with four bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. There is a large living room with a fireplace, large family room with another fireplace and full bar, formal dining room, master suite with twin walk-in closets, and large eat-in kitchen. There is also a 580 bottle wine cellar and a lower suite with separate entrance and exterior deck in the back of the home.

Between 1934 and 1936 character actor Fred Hueston rented the studio apartment. Hueston was born in London in 1879 and first role was as a wolf in the short film, “Cold Feet” in 1922. Hueston would appear in 16 films until 1946. He was an opera in “Call of the Flesh” starring Ramon Navarro in 1930, a Frenchman in “The World Moves On” starring Franchot Tone in 1934, a juror in “We Live Again” starring Frederic March in 1934, a guest in “The Walking Dead” starring Boris Karloff in 1936, a court clerk in “Confession” starring Kay Francis in 1937, and a restaurant patron in “Thank You, Mr. Moto” starring Peter Lorre also in 1937. During the 1940s, he worked with actors and actresses such as Randolph Scott, Basil Rathbone, Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, Hedy Lamarr, George Brent, Constance Bennett, Ginger Rogers, and Van Heflin. Hueston died in Los Angeles in 1961 at the age of 82. Below is the only photograph that could be found of Hueston in the short film, “Roll Along” in 1923.

Between 1936 to 1942, retired oil executive turned artist and publisher of Western Americans, Homer Elwood Britzman (1901-1953) moved into 6630 Iris Drive, with his wife Helen. Britzman, who was born in Colorado, attended University of Colorado and played offensive guard for the Buffaloes in 1921 and then married Helen a year later.

Below are photographs taken on Iris Circle when the Britzman’s resided in Whitley Heights. After they moved out of the house, they moved to Pasadena. Homer was a big fan of the cowboy artist, Charles M. Russell, and moved into his former home and filled the home with Russell’s paintings. (Actually, Russell had built the Pueblo style home in Pasadena and died a month before it was finished so his wife moved in alone.). Homer named the Pasadena home “Trails End” and started the Los Angeles Corral of the Westerners in 1946. The Los Angeles Corral of the Westerners promotes the study and understanding of Western history through publications and events. This collection contains correspondence, financial and publication records, photographs, artifacts, scrapbooks and drafts of articles documenting the history of the Los Angeles Corral of the Westerners. http://www.lawesterners.org/about-the-los-angeles-corral-of-westerners/

Following the Britzman’s departure from Whitley Heights, the Saunders lived in the home for over 50 years. Saunders had to repair a tiny fire in the home in 1986 and remodeled in the home in which he added a forth bathroom in the basement and a laundry room on the top floor. Below are more current photographs of the home: